Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.11.011
Titel (primär) Ecotoxicology and macroecology - time for integration
Autor Beketov, M.A.; Liess, M.
Quelle Environmental Pollution
Erscheinungsjahr 2012
Department OEKOTOX
Band/Volume 162
Seite von 247
Seite bis 254
Sprache englisch
Keywords Environmental toxicology; Macroecology; Biodiversity; Large spatial scale; Ecological impact assessment
Abstract

Despite considerable progress in ecotoxicology, it has become clear that this discipline cannot answer its central questions, such as, “What are the effects of toxicants on biodiversity?” and “How the ecosystem functions and services are affected by the toxicants?”. We argue that if such questions are to be answered, a paradigm shift is needed. The current bottom-up approach of ecotoxicology that implies the use of small-scale experiments to predict effects on the entire ecosystems and landscapes should be merged with a top-down macroecological approach that is directly focused on ecological effects at large spatial scales and consider ecological systems as integral entities. Analysis of the existing methods in ecotoxicology, ecology, and environmental chemistry shows that such integration is currently possible. Therefore, we conclude that to tackle the current pressing challenges, ecotoxicology has to progress using both the bottom-up and top-down approaches, similar to digging a tunnel from both ends at once.

dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=11934
Beketov, M.A., Liess, M. (2012):
Ecotoxicology and macroecology - time for integration
Environ. Pollut. 162 , 247 - 254 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.11.011